Casa Berardi: 14 Dec 1943

Before the 1st Canadian Corps could launch an attack on Ortona, the Canadians had to gain control
of the important crossroads near the small village of Casa Berardi. On 14 December 1943, "C" Company
of the Royal 22nd Regiment, commanded by Captain Paul Triquet, and seven tanks from the Ontario
Tank Regiment occupied Casa Berardi. The Germans immediately staged a determined counterattack to
retake the village.

By the evening of 15 December, the Germans had managed to encircle Captain Triquet's company
and the Ontario tank unit. The fighting raged on through the night, and the following morning the Royal
Canadian Regiment and the remainder of the Ontario Tank Regiment fought their way through to Casa
Berardi.

When the Royal Canadian Regiment finally entered Casa Berardi, only 9 of "C" Company's 81 men
were left. Captain Paul Triquet won the first Victoria Cross bestowed on a Canadian in the Italian
Campaign for his dogged defence of Casa Berardi.